A City of Cape Town staffer spent the weekend behind bars after he was arrested for allegedly selling Law Enforcement bulletproof vests on Facebook.
The dom skelm, who works in the City’s storeroom, was bust with two of his friends during a sting operation by the City’s Safety and Security Investigations Unit (SSIU) in Bonteheuwel on Friday.
Daily Voice sources say the advertisement was spotted by Law Enforcement Auxiliary officers who piemped him.
“They saw the post where the person was advertising a Law Enforcement bulletproof vest on Facebook for R3000 and contacted SSIU,” says the source.
“The Law Enforcement officer then contacted the seller, a woman, and they agreed to meet up in Bonteheuwel on Friday night.
“They met in Bluegum Street where the City employee along with two friends arrived with the vest in their bakkie. They got a skrik when the SSIU officer immediately arrested them after finding the vest.
“The official, who works in the storeroom, was found with an imitation firearm and his friend with a legal firearm.
“It is suspected that they also wanted to rob the buyer.”
City safety boss JP Smith confirms the arrest and says swift action by SSIU interrupted stolen council property from being sold.
“The suspect works in the Operational Coordination section of the Safety and Security Directorate and was tasked with the issuing of uniforms,” says Smith.
“The matter was reported by two Law Enforcement auxiliary members who had seen an advertisement online for the sale of bulletproof vests. SSIU investigated and effected the arrest.
“They also found a private firearm and an imitation firearm in the suspect’s vehicle.”
Smith says a branded bulletproof vest being sold in the public was not something the City condoned due to the potential harm.
“It can create a false impression and be highly dangerous if in the hands of the wrong people, as it allows people with ill intent to take advantage of someone’s trust in the assumption that it is a police official wearing it.”
City Spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo says they view this in a serious light and will take the necessary disciplinary action against the staffer should the City have sufficient evidence to proceed to do so.
The trio were expected to appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ Court yesterday on charges of being in possession of suspected stolen property but National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said the matter had not yet been placed on the court roll.